The Original LG G Watch Will Not Receive WiFi Support With The Android 5.1 Update

Google recently announced the Android Wear update coming to devices in the near future, which brings in quite a few new functions like gesture draws for sending emjois in message replies, better hands-free functionality thanks to the ability to flick your wrist for cycling through cards, and WiFi support so watches can still be connected and receive the notifications that come to phones even if the phone isn’t on your person, which could be extremely useful for anyone that leaves their phone at home at any point but take their watch. With WiFi support now for Android Wear coming in 5.1, those who love their Saturday morning runs which usually end up at a coffee shop with free WiFi will still be able to get those messages.

As Google mentioned, the WiFi support will allow the watch to stay connected to the phone when linked up on a wifi network, and the networks don’t have to be the same so devices could in fact be left at home while you take your Android Wear Smartwatch with you. Unless you have the original LG G Watch, which apparently isn’t going to get this new feature with the Android 5.1 update. This is a sad day for LG G Watch owners surely, especially if they had been looking forward to using it, but LG has stated the G Watch doesn’t have the requisite hardware to support the feature so it will not be getting it after the update hits at any point.

The good news is that anyone who is using the LG G Watch R or the LG Watch Urbane, both of which have the hardware needed to support it, will see the WiFi functionality come in and will be able to use it to their heart’s content. Along with the two latest LG Android Wear smartwatches, both Sony and Motorola have confirmed that their devices will get the WiFi support as well, and we can probably expect it to hit any of the newest Android Wear devices like the ASUS ZenWatch, and the Huawei Watch for example. The update hasn’t hit devices yet, and is expected to release in the upcoming weeks.